About 10 years ago I gave up making New Year's resolutions. However, like most people I try to find something that I want to try to change as we enter another year. I decided, that even though it will never happen, to stop worrying as much as I do. Those close to me know what I am talking about. This is not a habit of mine that developed recently. I remember my dear Mom many, many years ago calling me a "worry wart." I never really knew what that meant and never bothered to find out. Suffice to say, I worry about everything (yes, I have read all of the self-help books - and then worried why they didn't help me). Everyone has things they worry about in their family life and I am no exception. I am talking more about my professional life with the Springfield Falcons. So, in no particular order. here are just a FEW of the things that worry me.

1. The weather and how it will affect attendance. If I could, I would have Ed Carroll, Nick Morganelli and Brian Lapis all on speed dial. I have been known to check all three weather forecasts and, not seeing what I like, go to NECN, MassLive or anywhere else that may give me a sliver of hope that 10 days from now we are not going to get hit with the storm of the century. If you have a big season-ticket base you don't have to worry about these things, but here in Springfield we need our walk-up crowd.

2. Injuries. I watch every Columbus Blue Jackets game. I have been known to scream at the screen for a player to get up if he has just been felled by blocking a 100 mph shot. When I hear the announcer say the player has just gone down the runway to the locker room I go into panic mode. I know shortly afterward that Chris MacFarland, the assistant general manager of the Jackets, will be sending me a text that normally sets the wheels in motion for a call-up. The worrying cycle begins because, even though it could be midnight, I worry about whether we will lose a player or two and for how long. Thank goodness we have great depth this year and have been able to deal with injuries and call-ups.

3. The worries about attendance are ongoing. For several years, when we were not winning, I was always worrying about what will it take to get the fans out. I was always told, "Don't worry Bruce. If the team wins, the fans will come out." Well, so much for that theory. We won our division last year and currently have the best record of all 30 teams and I am worrying now why the fans have not responded the way I feel they should. Now I worry despite the efforts of owner Charlie Pompea and the previous ownership groups, whether Springfield can sustain an American Hockey League franchise. This one worries me more than anything because I have always been the eternal optimist, or else I would not have battled so hard over a long time to make sure we have a team.

4. The list goes on. Is the music too loud? Is the sound system crackling? Is there something wrong in the box office, causing people to wait in line? Is our video replay system working? I start pacing when I see the referee go off the ice and a goal is under review. Did we make a mistake playing New Year's Eve afternoon? Did the staff make it home with no problems during the snow storm the other day? Did our team doctor show up? Why didn't Channel 22 give our scores again? Why doesn't John O'Brien of the popular "Bax and O'Brien Show" on Rock 102 give our scores when he does his morning sports? I even bought him a beer at one of those after-hours networking events one night. Will there be enough parking if there is an event in the convention center and at Symphony Hall on a night when we are playing?

I think I have painted an accurate picture. There is not much that goes on that I don't worry about.

You know it is pretty bad when you worry about why you worry. So, as we get close to the second half of the season with the team in first place, I will start worrying about only those things that I can control.

Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing you at the Nest. Please show up so I don't start worrying. :)

Bruce Landon is president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons. He can be reached by commenting on this blog or sending him an e-mail at blandon@falconsahl.com. For more information visit the team website.